This special issue of Advances in Applied Ceramics features a collection of papers resulting from the 34th Annual Cement and Concrete Science Conference and one-day workshop on waste cementation. The conference took place on the 14–17 September 2014 and was hosted by the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Sheffield. The conference is an annual meeting organised by the Cementitious Materials Group of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining and co-sponsored by RILEM (The International Union of Laboratories and Experts in Construction Materials, Systems and Structures).
A sub-committee of the Cementitious Materials Group shortlisted the best papers for this issue. Authors were invited to expand their paper and submit to the journal for consideration. The six papers selected for this issue represent some of the invited Keynote talks from the conference, as well as student papers which were awarded the conference prizes for best presentation and best poster. These papers span several key aspects of the science of cement and concrete, including the design of both Portland cement and non-Portland cements, processing and properties of cements prior to (or during) placement in the form of concretes, and the performance of these materials under service-representative conditions.
The paper by Tajuelo Rodriguez et al.Citation1 looks at silicate anion structure and morphology of calcium silicate hydrates (C-S-H), the main product of Portland cement hydration. Structural properties are also investigated in the paper by Walkley et al.Citation2, which investigates formation of biphasic C-(A)- S-H/N-A-S-H geopolymer framework using stoichiometric control.
McIntosh et al.Citation3 in their paper have developed a screening process that allows selection of geological raw materials suitable for use in the development of a geopolymer binder. Gardner et al.Citation4 examine the performance of magnesium potassium phosphate cement (MKPC) binders blended with fly ash and ground granulated blast furnace slag.
Mishra et al.Citation5 look at overcoming clinker comminution in their paper to improve mill performance using grinding aids. Finally, Roussel and BayCitation6 provide a comprehensive overview of cementitious systems rheology.
It is hoped that these contributions will be significant in the further improvement of cement and concrete design, performance and sustainability, and we trust that they will be of interest to readers of Advances in Applied Ceramics.
References
- E. Tajuelo Rodriguez, I. G. Richardson, L. Black, E. Boehm-Courjault, A. Nonat, and J. Skibsted: ‘Composition, silicate anion structure and morphology of calcium silicate hydrates (C-S-H)’, Adv. Appl. Ceram., 2016, 114, 362–371.
- B. Walkley, J. L. Provis, R. San Nicolas, M. Sani, and J. S. J. van Deventer: ‘Stoichiometrically controlled C-(A)-S-H/N-A-S-H gel blends via alkali-activation of synthetic precursors’, Adv. Appl. Ceram., 2016, 114, 372–377.
- A. Mcintosh, S. E. M. Lawther, J. Kwasny, M. N. Soutsos, D. Cleland, and S. Nanukuttan: ‘Selection and characterisation of geological materials for use as geopolymer precursors’, Adv. Appl. Ceram., 2016, 114, 378–385.
- L. J. Gardner, V. Lejeune, C. L. Corkhill, S. A. Bernal, J. L. Provis, M. C. Stennett; and N. C. Hyatt: ‘Evolution of the phase 1 assemblage of blended magnesium potassium phosphate cement binders at 200°C and 1000°C’, Adv. Appl. Ceram., 2016, 114, 386–392.
- R. K. Mishra, D. Geissbuhler, H. A. Carmona, F. K. Wittel, M. L. Sawley, M. Weibel, E. Gallucci, H. J. Herrmann, H. Heinz, and R. J. Flatt: ‘En route to multimodel scheme for clinker comminution with chemical grinding aids’, Adv. Appl. Ceram., 2016, 114, 393–401.
- N. Roussel and H. Bessaies-Bey: ‘Steady state flows of fresh cement pastes and concretes: the simplified underlying physics’, Adv. Appl. Ceram., 2016, 114, 402–405.